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Last holiday shopping season, a photograph of the back of Drew Dunham's head was featured prominently on marketing materials for international clothing giant Abercrombie Kids.

This year, the 17-year-old Lakota East student is the face of the company worldwide.

Dunham said it was "kind of awkward" to unwrap the company's seasonal advertising campaign in September at a Tri-County Mall location and see his own face peering back.

"I was just like, freaking out because a lot of people dream of that and that was kind of my goal," Dunham said. "Everybody told me I should try out for Abercrombie and it just happened."

The main photo in each store is the same worldwide is the same – Dunham holding a jacket over his shoulder. Four secondary photos are of Dunham, as well.

"It's weird, because usually it's different male models," he said.

Abercrombie photographers gave Dunham no indication that an August photo shoot in Bar Harbor, Maine, would mean using his face in such a prominent promotion.

"There were so many models that it was hard to tell," he said. "They were a lot more interested in the other models."

Even after the photo shoot, the company kept Dunham in the dark.

"They don't tell you anything. You just wait until pictures come out," he said.

Jake Lang, owner of Cincinnati-based Wings Model Management, discovered Dunham and handles all his bookings. He said he believes Abercrombie selected his client because "he fits with something that is very all-American."

"Drew has an outgoing, friendly personality," Lang said, "and having a great personality in this business is key."

Dunham is hoping the newfound notoriety will be a resume-building stepping stone to larger ad campaigns for international fashion moguls like Calvin Klein and possibly a shot at a role on the silver screen.

In the meantime, he's applying to colleges and waiting to hear whether a Milan, Italy photo shoot materializes.

"We felt very blessed that they chose him," said Marianne Dunham, Drew's mother. "We're not sure what to expect but we never expected Abercrombie, so we'll take it as it comes."

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5126 or eschwartzberg@coxohio.com.